Admittedly overconfident and unfocused for the UFC 136 clash, Guillard was wobbled early in the fight and then submitted in just 47 seconds.

Now, as Guillard preps for a Friday night clash with Jim Miller (20-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) in the main event of UFC on FX 1, he readily accepts his role in that loss. He also insists he’ll never make the same mistake again.

“I was excited for my last fight with Lauzon, and I was in the best shape of my life,” Guillard said at today’s media workout session. “I just rushed myself and got caught. So right now, this new year, my key word is patience. In order to be patient, sometime I have to keep myself calm when i don’t want to be. I’d rather be sitting here, jumping around all crazy, but I want to translate how I feel right now into the ring.

“It’s not going to affect my style of fight, just so you guys know. I’m still going to go in and be the fast, explosive kid that I am. But right now, I just want to stay focused and grounded – try to humble myself where I can go in against a guy like Jim Miller and not make that mistake I made against Joe Lauzon.”

The loss was costly for Guillard, who had won five-straight fights before the defeat. Many MMA pundits believed he was on the verge of a title shot, the first of his career, but in a talent-rich 155-pound division, a single setback can push you several steps down the ladder.

Nevertheless, Guillard scored a headline gig in Friday’s event, which takes place at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. “The Young Assassin” said the importance of the role isn’t lost on him.

“For me, it’s just an honor and great just to have my job,” Guillard said. “I’m living a childhood dream right now. I always wanted to be a UFC fighter since the first Gracie fight I’ve ever seen. To be a part of something so big and so great – I’ve been in the UFC for six-and-a-half, almost seven years now. To watch it grow as big as it’s grown and to be a part of that, it’s an amazing feeling.”

In Miller, Guillard faces dangerous opponent in a similar position. Miller was also knocking on the door of a title shot before an August loss to Ben Henderson snapped his seven-fight win streak. Guillard knows the challenge that awaits and insists he’s keeping himself in check as the fight approaches.

“I know you guys aren’t seeing me all riled up like I normally am<” Guillard said. “I’m still myself. I just want to channel my energy to this fight. I don’t want to get over-anxious. I don’t want to get too crazy. I just want to keep myself a little grounded right now because coming into a fight against a guy like Jim Miller, I have no room for error.”

Guillard received much criticism for his behavior leading into the Lauzon fight. The brash lightweight was oozing confidence during fight week, and on fight day he elected to sign autographs at the 2011 UFC Fan Expo Houston rather than keep to himself as most fighters do in the hours before entering the octagon.

With a win, Guillard could still lay some claim to top contendership status at 155 pounds and keep himself in the discussion for potential big fights. But after the lesson learned from his recent loss, Guillard isn’t thinking about what comes next. Guillard insist his focus has changed from the future to the present, from goals to tasks at hand. Now is not the time for another mistake.

“I know in the past I’ve said, ‘I want to win a title; I want to win a title,'” Guillard said. “Of course I want to have the title eventually, but right now I just want to enjoy fighting – getting better – and by the time I do become a world champion, I can hold the belt for a long time and be successful.

“I learned from a close friend recently that sometimes when you win the belt too fast, it can be the end of your career. But I definitely want to enjoy my career and win the belt before I take my way out the door.”